Pink Is For Babies - Not Boomer!

I recently came across a great pattern for a new quickie type of project for a friend's baby. Rather than go out and spend way too much on some new yarn, I hit my stash. I was actually surprised to find a bright Spring-y color hiding in there. I usually tend to veer towards darker colors, but peeking out, in the middle of all my dark blues, greens and purples, were two balls of pink goodness. Too perfect for a Springtime baby garment (if that baby is a girl, of course).

So, I cast on with my always dependable Sugar N' Cream cotton yarn in Hot Pink, and off I went.

This will eventually be a wee little sundress, but right now, it's two panels of a smocked stitch for the front and back. This was a very fumbly stitch to figure out and work, but I really like how it turned out. All that's left for this sassy little ensemble is to join the 2 pieces together on a circular and then knit about 8 inches in Stockinette, some cute little eyelet details at the bottom, then voila!

As I was taking these pictures of my smocked panels, Boomer was sitting within inches, supervising the photo shoot. I thought he may like to pose with a piece of the yarn-goodness. But alas, he was quick to remind me that boys don't do pink - much less pink sundresses. I had to remind him that he was very manly, so manly, in fact, that while not many Maltese boys could pull off posing with girlie stuff, he most definitely could!

He didn't completely buy it, but at least he put his snarly face away. Just wait till he finds out I'm making him a smocked sundress in yellow! Tee-hee!

Off Topic Tuesday

Growing up, our family didn't have a ton of traditions, but rather just a few kind of special and sort of weird ones. One of the more silly ones came from my Nana. Now, I know she didn't make this one up, but I'm really not sure where it originates. I've heard other variations of it, but here's ours:
On the first day of each month, we would wake up, and before we set foot on the ground, we would jump off the end of our bed and yell "Rabbit Rabbit" while in the air, before we landed. If we were successful in doing so, good luck would be with us for the rest of the month!
Obviously giving us any kind of permission to jump off a bed when we were kids was awesome, so I pretty much loved the first of every month.
As a kid, I almost never missed a month, but as I got older, I forgot more often. Now, that I'm an adult, I almost never remember.

Usually, Boomer wakes me up nice and early for his morning business, so early sometimes, that I'm lucky to remember to put my glasses on much less what date it is. But, for some reason, I remembered this morning. I thought to myself "Hey Self, we sure could use some good luck, and what do you know? It's the first!" So I crawled to the end of my bed, glanced over at Boomer who was looking at me with the most puzzled look on his face, and jumped!
In my most happy-to-be-awake voice, I yelled out "Rabbit Rabbit", which scared the beejezus out of poor little Boomer, and he ran towards me - or should I say towards where I was about to land. Eeeek! I tried to readjust myself midair so as not to squish the little fluff ball, and, needless to say, did not nail my landing. It was, at best, a 1.2- and that's only if the Russian judge is being nice!
Oh well, I have ensured myself a whole month of good luck, despite the fact that it started off with a freaked out doggie and a sore bottom.

An FO - Yay Fo Me!!!

Finally - a Finished Object (FO) to share on the blog. I've had a couple of other items that have been finished, but they were either "secret" projects or just turned out waaay to embarrassing to show. So, here it it: The Soft Drawstring Pouch. This was my first foray into knitting with circs, and I think it came out splendidly (if I do say so myself). It was also my first time doing a 3-needle bind off, which I absolutely love love love!! No seaming - which is totally not my strong suit - plus it makes such a nice clean edge.

So, here are the stats:

Pattern: Soft Drawstring Pouch

Source: Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoversen

Yarn: Cotton Fleece by Brown Sheep Co, Oriental Jade, 1 Skein (80% Cotton, 20% Merino)

Needles: US 6, 16" Circulars

Size: 8" wide x 10" high

Mods: The pattern called for all stockinette stitch so that the top edge rolled down a bit. I decided to do a few rows of garter stitch at the top to avoid the rolled edge. Also, I did not make the fringe tassels for the ends of the I-Cord drawstring. I was concerned that they would become frayed and ratty looking after time.

Although this was a very simple project to do (and really should have taken a weekend, but took about 3 weeks, d'oh), I picked up some new skillz:

1) Knitting with circs - check!

2) Making yarn over eyelets - check!

3) Knitting an I-Cord - check!

(Sorry, no pic of the I-Cord, so here's Boomer!)

4) Doing a 3-needle Bind Off - check!

All in all, very basic skillz, but I definitely feel like I've increased my confidence level. Hmm, maybe it's time to try socks again!!!

Off Topic Tuesday

It's that time of year again. When it's daylight out just a wee bit longer, and the mid-day sun is a tad warmer. The nights are still chilly, but there are actually days when a jacket is not needed. Yes, Spring is in the air. Not quite here yet, but so close you can almost touch it.

Most of the grass around here is still a yellowy-brown color, and none of the leaves have taken up position on any trees, but as Boomie and I were were bee-bopping along the other day, something caught my eye....

The undeniable first signs of Spring!!! These are pics of the daffodils and tulips that live just outside my front door. So, even if the calendar isn't saying it just yet, I, KnittyBoomBoom, am declaring that, indeed, Spring has Sprung!! And none too soon!

Alms for the Poor....

Silly Boomer - trying out his Oliver Twist look. I think he's trying for more doggie treats, and how could I resist such a sweet face??

Out n' About

So, I've recently come to the conclusion that, for whatever reason, I need to make some new friends. And not just any old friends, but friends who knit and share my obsession with all things yarn-y. Currently, I don't have any knitting friends (other than those out in cyber space), so when I start to get a little dreamy eyed and drooley when talking about my newest issue of Interweave Knits, my current peeps assume I must have missed some meds that day.

My favorite Denver LYS (The Knitting Habitat) had their monthly Sit-n-Knit last night, so I decided to give it a whirl. I was a tad nervous, and thought I may be shunned for my lack of skillz, or for not knowing the proper way to knit in a group (as if there were a proper way), but I was determined to see other knitters out in the wild.
It was a small group, about 7 or so people - someone brought wine (always a good indication you're in good company), and others brought snacks. I found a spot, and pulled out my simplest project to work on. Before I knew it, 3 hours had gone by! What a fun (and oh so welcoming) group of ladies.
I didn't really pick up any new skillz, but, yes, it has been confirmed - I am a very slow knitter!! I was, however, complimented on my wicked even tension - slow and steady, that's me!!

I'm an English style knitter, but have been wanting to learn Continental style for some time now (I've heard it's faster, and not quite so fiddly). Most of the ladies at the Sit-n-Knit were Continentals, and man o man were their needles flying. It was like a blur of yarn. So, my next new thing I want to tackle is Continental Knitting. Oh, yeah, and to make it to more gatherings of knitting folks!

WIP Wednesday

So, I'm still trying to finish up all my little projects that I've started so I can move onto some bigger, more difficult stuff, and I only have a few left! I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I think I am a very slow knitter, but progress is progress!

First up, the "Green Circular Dealy". This is both a gift for someone, and a way to learn a new technique (knitting with circs). It's coming along rather well, just a few more inches of stockinette to go, then a three needle bind-off (yet another new skill to be learned), an I-cord drawstring, and done!!

The next item on the list (which I've been working on simultaneously with my other Works In Progress), is my "Purple Cablely Thing-A-Ma-Jig". I've really been enjoying working on this, because I really love cables. This was my first foray into Cable Land, and it's definitely a place I will be visiting again and again. This is also a gift for someone (yes, a very very very late holiday gift), but I think once it's done, it's going to be lovely. It's only about half way done, then it will need some light blocking, then voila!

My last little WIP, is something I kind of just did as something silly. I found a cute little pattern for knitted Easter Eggs, so I decided to give it a whirl (plus, it was a chance to sharpen my DPN skills). This little number is knitting up very quickly - just a couple more rows to go, then I need to bind off the ends, and stuff it. The only thing is, it's much bigger than I thought it would be, and really looks a little wonky. I'm hoping that it will fill out much more egg-like once I get to the stuffing part.

But, I guess if it doesn't, I could just say it was laid by a lopsided chicken!